Bhubaneswar: A delegation from the World Bank Group on Wednesday held a high-level meeting with Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg and senior officials of the state government to discuss strengthening the value chain of critical minerals in Odisha and across India.
During the meeting, the World Bank Group and the Odisha government explored several potential areas of collaboration, including development of critical mineral processing parks, mineral production, investment promotion, logistics infrastructure, industrial corridors, skill development, and technology integration.
Officials stressed the importance of building a robust and globally competitive critical mineral ecosystem in Odisha through coordinated efforts involving the Government of India, the state government, and industry stakeholders.
The discussions also focused on enhancing Odisha’s role in the emerging critical minerals sector, which is considered crucial for clean energy technologies, advanced manufacturing, and strategic industries.
Among those present at the meeting were Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary of the Steel & Mines Department Deoranjan Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary of Industries Department Hemant Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary of Revenue & Disaster Management Department Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary of Housing & Urban Development Department Usha Padhee, and Principal Secretary of Finance Department Sanjeeb Kumar Mishra, along with secretaries from various departments.
